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Ability Borders 2023 Newsletter
Welcome to a New Year!
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Your newsletter for disabilities
and long-term conditions across the Scottish Borders
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Our purpose is to:
- Inform disabled people or those living with a long-term condition about services available throughout the Scottish Borders and to help them have an independent life.
- Co-produce a Borders wide organisation involving disabled people themselves, their families and carers.
- Influence policy and services that will help them with their quality of life and to help improve information and services
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Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year from everyone here at Ability Borders! This short edition of our newsletter contains a few updates of work that Ability Borders is kicking the year off with and news of some exciting initiatives coming during 2023, so please read all about it and do get involved!
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Update from the Physical Disability Strategy Group
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Back in December, the Physical Disability Strategy Group commenced work on a review of the strategy which was originally agreed up until the end of November 2022. It was broadly felt by the group that there was no need for a complete overhaul of the strategy but rather it was time to review and refresh in light of the post pandemic landscape and the current cost-of-living situation in which we find ourselves. At our event on the 8th of December, the group went through the existing ambitions one by one. The original six ambitions still hold and reflect our aspirations for the future but gaps and emerging concerns and barriers were identified and noted so that they would be reflected for the future in the action plan. A discussion took place around whether or not additional ambitions were required. It was felt that the post-COVID landscape should be a theme running through the entirety of the action plan but that a seventh ambition around the cost-of-living should be developed. The proposed wording of a seventh ambition was:
‘The cost of living for people with a disability or long-term health conditions is a key part of maintaining their independence, presence and quality of life in their communities. The additional costs for people with a long-term health condition or disability should be reflected in financial and additional support required. Social prescription, benefits and access to resources will be key to addressing these additional challenges.’
The next workshop will reflect further on what has worked well until now and what could be made to work better. The date for that event is to be confirmed. But in the meantime, the upcoming meetings of the Physical Disability Strategy Working Group will take place on: Wednesday, 18th of January from 10.30am until 12noon via Microsoft Teams, then Wednesday, 1st of March, then the 12th of April and 24th of May. Please do join us, you would be most welcome. For more information or to be sent the link to join, please drop Dean Fisher an email to dean@abilityborders.org.uk
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Save the date! Social Prescribing Event!
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On Tuesday, 21st of February 2023 the Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber CIC are scheduling a Social Prescribing Community Learning Exchange Visit. A special guest, who has been involved with the delivery of social prescribing in another region of Scotland, will be joining us here in the Scottish Borders. This will provide an opportunity to explore what social prescribing is, how Third Sector organisations can respond and what the opportunities are. Ability Borders is to be involved with the production of a social prescribing guide for the Borders and so we would love to see as many of our members as possible come along to this event.
There has already been significant interest in the visit so places are limited. If you are interested in learning more and joining the event, please, complete the following expression of interest form or drop an email to dean@abilityborders.org.uk: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Pt25nlUa4EeuH1xrX2t6B0SwtQJpHXpFuUydr-agcRxURVcwWjFNRjE3S1RCMzBDOVIxUTBBVkNTUy4u
Social prescribing enables health care professionals to refer people to a wide range of local, non-clinical services which might benefit their health and wellbeing in a more holistic way, encouraging individuals to embrace a greater sense of control over their own wellbeing, so this is an exciting opportunity for us at Ability Borders to help shape services.
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Opportunity to be Involved in Research
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We have been asked by a psychology student at the University of Derby, Emma Nucci, if we would share the opportunity for people over the age of 65 to be involved with her research on self-perceptions of ageing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking part involves an interview done online which may last between 30 and 60 minutes. Participation and all responses will remain confidential and anonymous. The study has been approved by the University's ethics section. Individuals who are over the age of 65, fluent in English and resident of the UK can take part, there will be some exclusion criteria which will be explained. If you might be interested in taking part you can contact Emma directly by email: e.nucci1@unimail.derby.ac.uk
Or you can read more about the study by following this link: https://derby.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwTlynumlzBRYvY
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Mental Health Consultations
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We have been asked to circulate the Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft Quality Standards for Adult Secondary Mental Health Services. The consultation has been live since the middle of December and will remain so until the 17th of March 2023. Consultation responses are welcomed from individuals as well as organisations with the draft standards being set out which have been developed following engagement carried out by Scottish Government, partners, people who access psychological therapies and interventions, psychological therapies workforce and organisations who deliver services. It is hoped that this consultation will build on the strong engagement work already undertaken.
https://consult.gov.scot/mental-health-unit/adult-secondary-mental-health-services/
A second consultation is open looking at the National Specification of the delivery of psychological therapies and interventions in Scotland and that can be found here:
https://consult.gov.scot/mental-health-unit/national-specification-for-the-delivery/
Although these are separate consultations, it has been recognised that many will have an interest in both the Specification and the Standards and your feedback would be most welcomed.
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Let Life Surprise You in 2023
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The start of another year tends to find us reflecting on the past and making resolutions for the future but is there another, gentler way to greet the new year? Why not let life surprise you?
This is not so much a case of simply sitting back, giving up on making plans or actively working on areas of our lives which might need a bit of attention, but it is more about being prepared to say 'yes' to the twists and turns, ups and downs, highs and lows that life delivers. It is often in the moments when nothing seems to be going the way we had planned, that we discover something unexpected that can lead to an enriching of our experience. We might find ourselves where we don't exactly want to be but in the process stumble across something or someone that may never have otherwise crossed our paths, or learn a lesson that, while it might be hard in the learning, we later come to value. What are your thoughts on this, do let us know. Do you set new year resolutions and stick by them? Or in 2023 might you be happy to relinquish control and see where life takes you?
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New Nail Clipping Service
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Following a review of podiatry services an opportunity has arisen for Ability Borders and Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber CIC to establish a nail clipping service. High quality training will be offered for the service and this could provide an opportunity for those who might be interested in starting out on a new career path. Watch this space for more details to come on this exciting new initiative and, in the meantime, if you would be interested in attending the training, please, drop an email to: enquiries@abilityborders.org.uk
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Ditch the Contract, Come to Ability Borders for Free Sims for Calls, Texts and Data!
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